Early career acute care surgeons' priorities and perspectives: A mixed-methods analysis to better understand full-time employment. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2023 Dec 01;95(6):935-942
Date
07/07/2023Pubmed ID
37418689DOI
10.1097/TA.0000000000004037Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85178500665 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the expectations of early career acute care surgeons will help clarify the practice and employment models that will attract and retain high-quality surgeons, thereby sustaining our workforce. This study aimed to outline the clinical and academic preferences and priorities of early career acute care surgeons and to better define full-time employment.
METHODS: A survey on clinical responsibilities, employment preferences, work priorities, and compensation was distributed to early career acute care surgeons in the first 5 years of practice. A subset of agreeable respondents underwent virtual semistructured interviews. Both quantitative and thematic analysis were used to describe current responsibilities, expectations, and perspectives.
RESULTS: Of 471 surgeons, 167 responded (35%), the majority of whom were assistant professors within the first 3 years of practice (80%). The median desired clinical volume was 24 clinical weeks and 48 call shifts per year, 4 weeks less than their median current clinical volume. Most respondents (61%) preferred a service-based model. The top priorities cited in choosing a job were geography, work schedule, and compensation. Qualitative interviews identified themes related to defining full-time employment, first job expectations and realities, and the often-misaligned system and surgeon.
CONCLUSION: Understanding the perspectives of early career surgeons entering the workforce is important particularly in the field of acute care surgery where no standard workload or practice model exists. The wide variety of expectations, practice models, and schedule preferences may lead to a mismatch between surgeon desires and employment expectation. Consistent employment standards across our specialty would provide a framework for sustainability.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.
Author List
Murphy PB, Coleman J, Maring M, Pokrzywa C, Deshpande D, Al Tannir AH, Biesboer EA, Morris RS, Figueroa J, de Moya MAuthors
Abdul Hafiz Al Tannir MD Postdoctoral Fellow in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinRachel S. Morris MD Assistant Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Career ChoiceEmployment
Humans
Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
Surgeons
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workload
